Heather Alexander other West African states, requires a court procedure to obtain a jugement supplétif to rectify the failure to register in time. Article 84 guarantees that birth registration is free, an important fact in a country with a high poverty rate. Birth registration centres are located in hospitals and, for nomads, the local government is empowered to create special registration centres under Art. 84. Articles 85-90 lay out the specific rules for where civil registration may take place. Articles 91-100 establish the rules for the government agents that may engage in civil registration. Articles 101-113 establish the procedures for civil registration via the courts. 4.3 Marriage registration and legitimisation of children Articles 173-184 deal with the issuances of marriage certificates. However, the vast majority of marriages performed in Mali are performed according to custom and/or Islamic law. As a result, civil marriages registered with the state are rare, complicating the application of Malian nationality law and, in particular, the rules on birth in or out of wedlock. Articles 163-172 contain the rules for the recognition and legitimation of children, which are important due to the fact that the nationality code contains different rules for out-ofwedlock children. There are limits on the recognition of children who result from adultery or incest. Children born out of wedlock may later be legitimated by their parents’ marriage. 4.4 Consular registration Articles 191-202 establish the rules for civil registration abroad for births, marriages and deaths at embassies and consulates. Under Art. 203, the registration of births and deaths at a consulate or embassy is obligatory. 4.5 Certificates of nationality The certificate of nationality is the foundation of Malian nationality documentation and is proof of nationality (Arts. 263-265). Under Article 263, the president of a court of first instance (tribunal de première instance) and a justice of the peace are the two authorities who can grant certificates of nationality. In case of refusal, a person can appeal to the minister of justice (Art. 265). For Malians abroad, the competent authorities are Malian embassies and consulates. 4.6 National identity cards As a matter of daily use, the identity card, the Carte Nationale d’Identité (CNI), issued pursuant to a decree in 1988, is usually sufficient to establish nationality. Either a CNI, or a carte consulaire if abroad, is obligatory.105 Mali is in the process of introducing biometric ID cards 105 Décret N° 55-014/PG-RM du 9 Janvier 1988. RSCAS/GLOBALCIT-CR 2020/11 - © 2020 Author(s) 17